'Oldest' publican dies, 94

A woman from the Shropshire border who was reputedly the oldest publican in the country, has died at the age of 94.

Florence Emily Lane ran the Sun Inn in Leintwardine, which was one of the last genuine country inns, for 74 years. Miss Lane, who was known as Flossie, died in hospital after a short illness on June 13.

She was renowned by villagers for living in her armchair in the pub, and in her later years even persuaded village volunteers to run the pub for her, with punters paying for tipples by putting coins into a row of jam jars.

Miss Lane claimed to be a teetotaller and said she "left drink to the others" while just enjoying tea and ginger beer.

She was known for locking the pub's door after hours and declaring private parties, but set criteria for who was allowed to come into the pub, banning bearded men.

Miss Lane was was one of six children and her father, Charles, was the village policeman. One of her brothers, Charlie, bought the pub and presided behind the bar with Flossie as his helper. When he died she became the landlady and remained there until her death.